Report of the 26th Meeting of the European Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication

The 26th Meeting of the European Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication (RCC) took place in Copenhagen, Denmark on 18‒20 June 2012. The Meeting reviewed annual updates submitted by the Member States of the Region on their status as polio-free.

The RCC reviewed this evidence to determine whether the Region had maintained its polio-free status during 2011. The RCC also identified issues that threatened the future polio-free status of the Region and proposed action to be taken by Member States and the Regional Office for reducing the risk of polioviruses circulating in the Region.

Based on the information provided by the national certification committees, the RCC is confident that wild poliovirus did not circulate in the Region in 2011. The RCC reminded all Member States that polio eradication has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Assembly and they should maintain high immunization coverage and effective surveillance until global eradication is achieved.